From the Dispatch

Texas Again Demonstrates the Pitfalls of Privatization

Altaf Rahamatulla — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:23:58 -0700

This past week, the Dallas Morning News revealed that a key figure who contributed to the privatization of Texas' food stamp eligibility program is now receiving taxpayer dollars to help fix the problems that the private system created. regg Phillips, who was Deputy Commissioner at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and led the push for privatization a few years ago, now heads AutoGov Inc., a company that has received $207,500 from the state government in the past four months to assist in eliminating the errors in the provision and eligibility determination of the state's food stamp program.

Eye on the Right: Adding Anti-Gay Provision to Wasteful Film Tax Credits in Florida

Altaf Rahamatulla — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:00:00 -0800

PSN has noted in previous Dispatches, these credits are costly, favor out-of-state workers, offer minimal to no returns, do not create permanent jobs, and place an excessive burden on taxpayers in a time of economic uncertainty. The Massachusetts Department of Revenue recently determined that in twelve states that administer a film tax credit, the return is extremely meager-- finding that states were only getting back "$.0.07 to $.0.28 per dollar of tax credit granted."

2.4 Million Jobs Supported by the Recovery Act - and a Depression Averted

Altaf Rahamatulla — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:27:25 -0800

This week marks the one-year anniversary of the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The annual report by the White House task force monitoring the impact of ARRA funds, led by Vice-President Joe Biden, finds that up to 2.4 million jobs have been created or saved in both the public and private sector as a result of federal recovery efforts.

Eye on the Right: Opposing the Recovery While Taking Credit for the Results

Altaf Rahamatulla — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:15:43 -0800

How do we know the Recovery Act is working?

Over 70 members of the House of Representatives vociferously opposed ARRA, but returned to their home districts to take credit for job creation, investments in infrastructure and the green economy, and spending on critical community needs. Many of these same lawmakers requested further federal funds for projects in their states.

Job Creation and State Fiscal Relief Resolutions Moving in the States

Altaf Rahamatulla — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:12:03 -0800

In the State of the Union speech, President Barack Obama stated, "...jobs must be our number-one focus in 2010, and that's why I'm calling for a new jobs bill." With the fiscal crisis forcing states to layoff hundreds of thousands of teachers, nurses and police officers, the need for more federal job creation and state fiscal relief support is clear. And there is substantial momentum building around this issue in the states.

Eye on the Right: Arizona's Failed Experiment with Tax Cuts

Altaf Rahamatulla — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:58:44 -0800

How are Arizona's right-wing legislators responding to the state's most severe fiscal crisis since the Great Depression?

Massive corporate income tax cuts, of course.

Revenue Options in 2010: Making the Case and Debunking the Myths

Altaf Rahamatulla — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 10:22:15 -0800

Last Tuesday, Oregonians overwhelmingly approved two ballot initiatives that ratified legislative action last year to increase high-end personal income and corporate taxes. The failure of the anti-tax movement in Oregon is one more in a long stream of right-wing initiatives rejected by voters at the ballot box. In fact, progressive revenue generation as part of a balanced approach to addressing state deficits has been popular with both voters and legislatures for years. This Dispatch will provide both the facts and messages to debunk opposition to smart revenue options, while outlining a few of the best revenue approaches to filling budget holes.

States Act to Limit Judicial Ruling Allowing Corporations to Spend Directly to Elect or Defeat Candidates

Christian Smith-Socaris — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:12:10 -0800

Portending a sharp increase in corporate political spending, the Supreme Court has ruled (Citizens United v. FEC) that corporations enjoy the same speech rights of citizens when it comes to advocating the election or defeating political candidates. Elected officials, including U.S. President Barack Obama, have denounced the ruling as striking at the heart of our democracy by putting corporations on an equal footing with real people when it comes to basic constitutional rights.

Tuesday's Lesson: Bold State Leadership Needed More than Ever

Nathan Newman — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 09:19:02 -0800

Gridlock. Slow fulfillment of promises of change in D.C. A health care bill so compromised that even supporters are unhappy with many details. Frustration with D.C. seemed to be the clearest message from Massachusetts voters on Tuesday. But what can we expect other than gridlock and resistance when a 59-seat super-majority in the U.S. Senate is insufficient to pass serious legislation? Or when monied interests in D.C. buy off support to block serious reforms on financial regulations, health care and climate change legislation? This is why bold, progressive leadership in the states matters.

Federal Officials Critical of Privatization Debacles in the States

Altaf Rahamatulla — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 09:16:43 -0800

In a meeting with Texas officials last week, Kevin Concannon, Under Secretary of Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), claimed that there had been a drastic reduction in the timeliness and accuracy of food stamp provisions in the state following the implementation of a privatized system. In fact, Texas now has the worst performing food stamp program in the entire country.